PURPOSE: To determine the effect of post-discharge telephone intervention with both patients and family caregivers on patient compliance with doctors' advice and rehabilitation progress in total hip replacement patients. METHODS: In total, 249 participants were assigned to either the control or telephone intervention group according to the discharge date. The patients in the intervention group were contacted by phone three to seven days after discharge, at one month, and at three months post-discharge. Their family caregivers received were contacted by phone twice a month. Content of the telephone intervention included discussion of exercise, cautions in daily life, and regular examination. The patients in the control group received routine health education and follow-up. All participants were evaluated by the questionnaire of compliance with doctors' advice when they were discharged at one, three, and six months after discharge. The Harris Hip Score of patients was assessed on discharge day and six months after discharge. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the patients' compliance scores in the two groups on discharge day or one month after discharge. Three and six months after discharge, the scores in the intervention group were significantly higher than the control group (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the groups in the Harris Hip Score on discharge day. Six months after discharge, the Harris Hip Score in the intervention group was significantly higher than the control group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Telephone intervention with patients and family caregivers improved patient compliance with doctors' advice and promoted functional hip joint rehabilitation.

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